Shipping can



P 1933; L. B. MEACHAM 1,925,454

SHIPPING CAN Filed Dec. 4, 1929 AZ A? Patented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a shipping can and more particularly to such a can especially designed for the shipment of crab meat and similar substances.

In the shipment of crab meat it is necessary that the package containing the same be surrounded by ice and that the crab meat itself shall not be washed before shipment. If it is washed, when it reaches destination it is discolored. It is customary to ship crab meat in tin cans, the tops of which must be removable, but at the same time securely attached to the cans in a manner to avoid the accidental removal in the rough handling of the product. The cover of the can cannot be ordinarily airtight, and it is usual to put perforations in the bottom of the can. Another desirable feature of a can of this kind is the ability to partly remove the top so that the crab meat may be viewed and the top replaced on the can.

It is the object of the invention to secure all the sundry advantages enumerated in a tin can which can be quickly and economically manufactured and which will not require any special securing means for the top.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a section through a can resting in a position on its side, and illustrating the method under which the can top is removed for inspection of the contents,

Fig. 2 is a section through the top of the can as it is in upright position, and I Fig. 3 is a detailed section on an enlarged scale of the can body.

The numeral 10 designates the cylindrical body of the tin can which has the bottom 11 secured thereto in any desired manner as by crimping of the material of which the bottom is formed about the circumferential edge of the body, as shown at 12 on the drawing. The cover 13 is formed to correspond with the upper portion of the body so that there will be a secure holding of cover upon can, the details of construction of which will be described. The numeral 14 indicates the crab meat which has been packed in the can, and the position of the parts shown in Figure 1 indicates how the top is removed partially in order to exhibit the. contents of the can to prospective purchaser or to an inspector.

Referring to Figure 3 the edge of the can is indicated by the numeral 15 below which at a'suitable distance is the score line 16, while 17 indicates a second score line which may be denominated the bead base, while 18 is a further score line which may be denominated as the mouth base. The material between the edge 15 of the can and the score line 18 is the mouth of the can, and that circular section lying between thelines l7 and 18 and indicated by the numeral 19 is a section slightly tapered inwardly. Between the lines 16 and 17 there is a pronounced bead 20 interiorly disposed within the can and above the line 16 and between it and the edge 15 is the outward flare or spring band 21 of the mouth. The can top is correspondingly formed, that is there are formed therein sections of the flange to correspond with those just described and indicated by the numerals 19, 20, and 21.

Immediately joining the flat portion of the top is a circular section 22 denominated here as a skirt corresponding to the section 21 of the can mouth, beneath it is an interior bead section 23 corresponding to the bead section 20 of the can mouth and at the tip of the flange is the section 24 corresponding to the section 19 of the can mouth. There is no necessity for any flare or taper in the sections 22 or 24 as plain sections will operate in connection with the can mouth.

Referring to Figure 2 which shows the cover applied, it will be appreciated that the springy band 21 lies above the bead 23 of the cover and has its edge snugly lying at the bend between the flat and flange portions of the cover, with the flange body in frictional contact with the skirt portion 22, that the bead 23 of the cover lies nested in the outer face of the head 20 of the can mouth and that the lower portion of the flanged tip 24 rests against the lower portion of the bevel or taper 19 of the can mouth. In this position of the parts it will be appreciated that the cover is securely held in place on the can but not so securely held that the cover shall be airtight. In fact the cover may be easily revolved on the can mouth and by such a revolving will resist any tendency in the rough handling for the cover to be removed from the can. It will be further appreciated that the joint between the flanged tip 24 and the body of the can will be such that only a sharp instrument can be inserted. This also aids in the avoidance of accidental removal of the top in use.

Referring now to Figure 1 where the cover is shown as partly removed, it will be appreciated that the flaring of the portion 21 of the can mouth accomplishes a plurality of functions in the combination which is the subject of this invention. In the closed position the flare lies somewhat springily in the joint between flat and flanged portions of the cover, whereby no undue lateral movement of the cover on the can can take place; when the cover is sought to be removed to the position shown in Figure this flare acts in connection with the interior bead on the cover as a guide to a true opening of the can in that it bears against said bead; in the closing of the can this flare again acts as a guide to a proper closing and provides a means for gathering in particles of crab meat which may have proceeded beyond the mouth edge; and in the final closing it is the part which gives to permit the snapping on of the" I. A cam having a cylindrical metal wall, an.

exterior annular continuous groove adjacent the top thereof, a springy annular band extending above the groove, a cover having an internal bead and a body skirt, said bead being spaced from the top wall of the, cover by said skirt and adapted to lie within the groove, the parts being so proportioned that the edge of the springy flange has direct frictional contact with the interior wall of the skirt when the bead is positioned in the groove.

2. The combination of can and cover specified in claim 1 in which the cover is further provided with a lip to frictionally engage the can below the groove thereof.

3. The combination of can and cover specified in claim 1 in which the groove of the can and the bead of the cover have a relatively loose fit permitting rotary movement between cover and can.v

4.. A can having a cylindrical metal wall, and a top of complemental formation, adapted to be resiliently snapped upon the can body, the en-' gage nent of the parts being accomplished by means comprising an annular continuous groove on one part and an annular continuous bead on the other part, the bead adapted to lie within the groove, and a springy band on the can body, and a body skirt upon the top, the band and skirt lying above the groove and bead, the parts being so proportioned that the edge of the springy flange has direct frictional contact with the interior wall of the skirt when the bead is positioned in the groove.

LAURENCE B. MEACI-IAM. 

